Four years to digital

Sir Ernest Ryder has called for the “long overdue” improvement of IT facilities, in his first annual report since taking over as Senior President of Tribunals.

Highlighting his predecessor Sir Jeremy Sullivan’s support for online dispute resolution, he praised the nearly paperless system of the back office of the Traffic Penalties Tribunal in Wilmslow, Cheshire, which he visited recently. There, the entire process can be completed digitally but there is also provision for a face-to-face hearing. This style of online dispute resolution would be piloted as a first priority in the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal, which deals with high volumes of cases with appellants almost always representing themselves.

Sir Ernest said: “A central part of our vision for the future of tribunals is that services will be ‘digital by default’. We must ensure that this vision is delivered over the next four years and that Sir Jeremy’s prediction moves closer to reality.”